High-level government engagement was the hallmark of the third policy forum of the EPBD.wise project which took place on 30 May 2024 in Bucharest with no less than three different national ministries represented (Department for Sustainable Development; Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration; and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests). Bogdan Atanasiu, Senior Policy Officer on Energy Efficiency in Buildings at the European Commission’s DG ENER  joined EPBD.wise representatives Rose Hartwig-Peillon (Efficient Buildings Europe), Ece Özer (TU Wien) and Bettina Sticher (SERA), and focus country partner ROENEF to meet with policymakers and key stakeholders working for an efficient building stock in Romania.

Tracking Process with Data

National developments supporting EPBD implementation were addressed by a high-level panel with ministerial representation:. Luminița Bălălău, Department for Sustainable Development; Darrian Cotescu, Deputy Director, Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration; Adrian Ștefănescu, Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests; and Radu Dudău, Director, Energy Policy Group shared their insights.  

Bălălău welcomed the EPBD.wise project, describing it as “a valuable support for national authorities”. Supporting the implementation of the EPBD is a priority, particularly in the context of Romania’s progress in relation to the UN’s sustainable development goals. The construction sector is regarded as crucial for achieving targets on the efficient use of natural resources and waste reduction and contributing to both global and national strategy targets.  

Cotescu highlighted the “Registrul Național Digital al Clădirilor” (RNDC): a comprehensive tool developed by the Romanian Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Administration, designed to monitor the energy performance of buildings across the country. Provided for in national legislation, the RNDC is envisaged as an advanced information system with a georeferenced database of public and private buildings, interoperable with local urban databases and other national systems. It will support policy analysis, investment planning, and monitoring, and facilitate information exchange among construction sector stakeholders, building owners, financial institutions, and public authorities. 

The RNDC could become a pivotal tool in monitoring and managing building renovations and help track progress in national and European investment programs, ensuring effective implementation and compliance with strategic plans. This national registry of buildings is “vital” according to Horia Petran, President at Cluster pRO-nZEB, as part of the need for wider communication about energy efficiency in buildings.  

Unlocking Finance  

Petran also noted that a communication framework is currently under development with DG REGIO, the World Bank, and the Ministry of Regional Development. “It’s essential to reach citizens and local administrations and unlock financing mechanisms,” he said. The finance gap is significant: Romania’s Long-Term Renovation Strategy sets out an estimate of EUR 13 billion needed for energy renovations of buildings under a moderate policy scenario.  

EPBD.wise will return to Romania in autumn 2025 with guidelines on how best to approach building renovation passports, national building renovation plans, and minimum energy performance standards and national trajectories (Article 9).